April 23, 2009

Reporters Notebooks

Lee Barfknecht, Omaha World-Herald: There will be no more booze allowed in skyboxes at Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. Athletic director Tom Osborne confirmed that, in light of an alcohol poisoning case at a game last fall, skybox holders are being told stricter enforcement of the law banning alcohol on campus is coming.

Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times: Bowl Championship Series commissioners will revisit the Mountain West's proposal for an eight-team playoff in June after it has been properly vetted (translation: rejected) by college presidents.

Jeff Metcalfe, Arizona Republic: At least one Arizona State player has been selected in the last 45 years of the NFL draft, but that streak could come to an end this weekend.

Ryan Finley, Arizona Daily Star: Mike Stoops will make $1 million this year — and more in each subsequent year through 2013 — under a proposed contract extension pending approval from the Arizona Board of Regents.

Bob Condotta, Seattle Times: Terrance Dailey, who was Washington's leading rusher last season, and Allen Carroll, an offensive lineman, will not be back with the team.

Iliana Limón, Orlando Sentinel: The Central Florida-Alabama Birmingham game, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, has been moved to Saturday, Nov. 28. The reason? The original date would conflict with the Auburn-Alabama game. Plus, Central Florida takes a trip to the bakery, scheduling creampuff South Dakota of Division I-AA in 2010.

Bob Flounders, Harrisburg Patriot-News: Penn State first-team All-Big Ten linebacker Navorro Bowman had an extra 12 months added to his probation after admitting he used marijuana twice in the last four months. He was already on probation after pleading guilty in May 2008 to disorderly conduct in connection with a campus fight the previous fall.

Jake Trotter, Oklahoman: Justice is served in Oklahoma, where Sooner reserve offensive tackle Donald Stephenson turned himself in to police after a municipal warrant was served over Stephenson’s initial failure to pay a Feb. 4 excessive speeding citation.

Lawrence Journal-World: Kansas receiver Dezmon Briscoe, a second-team All-Big 12 selection last year who was suspended in late March for violating unspecified team rules, has been reinstated to the team.